Chapter 194: Contest (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 194: Contest (3)
“… Hmm.”
Creak…
“Uh…?”
Now accustomed to the heavy leadenness of my eyelids, I forced them open. The sight of an unexpectedly familiar ceiling greeted me, leaving me momentarily dazed.
“Where am I…?”
My mind was still a fog of grogginess, making it impossible to pinpoint my exact location.
“… Ah.”
I chased after the elusive threads of my memory for a moment until, suddenly, the dam broke. A flood of recollections rushed back into my head.
…So, I really did get eaten alive.
I remembered it vividly—the moment Charlotte Holmes had burst into the bathroom just as I was about to bathe. After that, however, things became hazy.
No, not hazy. Fragmented.
It wasn’t that I remembered nothing. Rather, jagged shards of memory pierced my mind: scenes of a frenzied, sweat-drenched Charlotte ravaging me like a woman possessed.
“Ugh…”
As those terrifying memories resurfaced, a dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen.
What would happen if the Professor and Charlotte lost all restraint and started pouncing on me like that every single day? My lower half would probably be pulverized into dust.
…Still, at least I took precautions.
Despite the chill running down my spine, I took small solace in my foresight. Even though the Professor had brutally shattered my magic, the biological differences between our species meant it would be difficult for her to conceive.
As for Charlotte, brilliant as she was, she was still woefully lacking in carnal knowledge. I was fairly certain she hadn’t noticed the birth control magic I’d cast on myself beforehand.
But now was not the time for complacency. Before they found another opening, I had to accelerate my plans.
Yes. To do that, first—
Creak…
“……?”
The door swung open, cutting my thoughts short. I immediately shifted my gaze toward the entrance.
“Ah.”
In an instant, I realized exactly where I was.
“…Are you finally awake?”
Gia Lestrade, wearing an apron, was staring down at me with a frigid expression.
I’m dead.
The memories of the brutal "punishments" she’d inflicted on me for breaching our contract a few days ago came rushing back.
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…
The phantom sensation of every muscle in my body screaming in agony—a feeling I hadn’t experienced since my military days—returned with a vengeance. I had no desire to be confined to Lestrade’s yard all day again, undergoing the soul-crushing physical drills that made me want to pray for death.
“Um, excuse me…”
In a fit of desperation, I scratched the back of my hand and muttered the first thing that came to mind.
“Who… are you?”
“Excuse me?”
I belatedly recalled that the other women, who had banded together to take down Professor Moriarty, had only agreed to a truce because of my feigned memory loss. I leaned into the act.
“M-My memory… it’s not very clear right now…”
“……”
“I-I’m sorry…”
If Lestrade still believed that lie, perhaps I could avoid being punished for the contract breach—at least until she realized the amnesia was a performance.
Swoosh…
“…Hic.”
Contrary to my hopes, Lestrade silently knelt on the bed and suddenly leaned in close, looming over me.
“I-I’m so sorry…!”
Convinced I’d been caught, I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing to beg for mercy until my limbs gave out.
Squeeze…
“…..Huh?”
Instead of a fist, a warm, soft sensation enveloped my body. I opened my eyes in confusion.
“Um…?”
“……..”
Lestrade held me silently in her arms, her hand tracing slow, soothing circles on my back.
“Even in this state… for them to do something so horrible… Unbelievable…”
I caught a glimpse of her eyes. For a fleeting second, a thick, murderous intent flashed within them as she gnashed her teeth.
Grind…
“Uh, um.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but something felt terribly wrong.
.
.
.
.
.
“Excuse me, so…”
An indeterminate amount of time passed.
“Am I really… your husband?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Adler sat on the bed with a dazed expression, his voice laced with surprise. Beside him, Lestrade sat with a demure, modest posture, nodding silently.
“Y-You might not remember because of the amnesia… but w-w-we are newlyweds.”
“It’s hard to believe. That someone as beautiful as you is my wife…” Adler murmured, his voice shy as he stole a glance at her. “Could there be some mistake…?”
“W-W-What mistake could there be in a marriage?!”
“For example, like a contract marriage…”
“No, not at all!”
Lestrade’s voice spiked as she vehemently denied the suggestion.
“W-W-We are… young n-n-newlyweds. Yes.”
“Well…”
“I-I can prove it, too.”
With a wavering look in her eyes, she hesitated for a heartbeat before suddenly leaning forward.
Smack.
The inspector’s soft lips pressed gently against Adler’s.
“…Mmm~”
“……..”
“Did you see…?”
As Adler sat there, stunned, Lestrade quickly pulled back. She bowed her head, hiding her face as she whispered, “W-W-We used to do this sort of thing all the time. Quite naturally, yes…”
“I-Is that so…”
Her ears were beet red. She peeked at Adler’s reaction before whispering in a voice so low it was barely audible.
“By the way… i-i-it’s your turn now.”
“…Ah.”
Silence stretched between them.
Smack.
“Mmm~”
After a moment of hesitation, Adler carefully kissed her back. A faint, airy moan escaped the now-flushed Lestrade.
“T-T-That should be enough, right?”
“…Ah, yes.”
“…T-The proof might be sufficient, but if needed, I can go get the marriage certificate for you.”
She spoke with a steaming face, hurriedly nudging Adler.
“Shouldn’t we have just started with that?”
“That’s… uh…”
Lestrade began to stutter as Adler’s logic hit the nail on the head.
“…Oh, goodness, I completely forgot.”
Suddenly, she stood up and marched out of the room, ignoring Adler’s bewildered stare.
What the hell is going on…
Finally alone, Adler shed his innocent facade. His expression twisted into one of pure confusion as he processed Lestrade’s total 180-degree turn in attitude.
Did I eat something wrong? Or is this a fake Lestrade? No, that’s too far-fetched. Then why on earth is she acting like this…
Creak…
“…Suuu.”
The moment he heard the door, Isaac Adler took a sharp breath and forced the innocent look back onto his face.
“…….”
However, the mask didn’t last long. It was quickly replaced by genuine bewilderment.
“I-I-It’s nothing much.”
Sizzle, sizzle…
“I just prepared a simple meal…”
Lestrade had returned carrying a tray with steaming soup and roast chicken. She was still clad in her apron, muttering with a strangely demure air.
“Why… why all of this?”
“Why, you ask?”
Adler’s voice trembled slightly as he noticed her hands, which were covered in small nicks and blisters. Lestrade avoided his gaze, her voice barely a whisper.
“…Because I love you.”
“……..”
“We are married, aren’t we? This is only normal.”
Adler was at a total loss for words, a nervous sweat breaking out on his brow.
“Oh, and… there’s something you need to know.”
“…Wha-What is it?”
She cautiously set the meal down in front of him and leaned in close, her voice dropping an octave.
“For the time being… please avoid going out.”
“Pardon?”
“The outside is dangerous.”
Adler tilted his head in confusion. Gauging his reaction, Lestrade cautiously placed her hand on his knee.
“There’s a contagious disease spreading outside. It’s best not to go out unnecessarily; it could worsen your condition.”
“Uh… but it looks like there are plenty of people moving about.”
Swoosh!
As Adler turned toward the window, she drew the curtains with such blinding speed that he almost wondered if the people outside had been a hallucination.
“The outside is dangerous.”
“…Um.”
“Therefore, as your dutiful and loving wife, I will protect you.”
She looked at Adler with a chillingly calm expression as she whispered those words.
Brrrrr…
A shiver raced down Adler’s spine and refused to leave.
“….Are you feeling ill?”
“………”
“You did have a high fever a few days ago and lost consciousness, didn’t you? That’s probably why your memory is like this.”
Lestrade checked his forehead, her eyes darting away from his as she continued to mutter to herself.
“I-Is that really true…?”
“Yes. But don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”
“H-How long…?”
“How long? Naturally, until your memory returns.”
Adler tried to maintain his composure, asking in a small, tentative voice, “What if… it never comes back?”
Lestrade looked at him pensively for a moment, then broke into a gentle, sweet smile.
“…Then we’ll just have to create new ones. Together.”
“……..”
“Now, say ‘aah.’ I’ll feed you myself.”
Adler tried to return the smile, but his eyes were fixed on the translucent message floating in the air with a look of pure pity for himself. He opened his mouth.
[Warning!]
[— Probability of being Tamed — 100%]
Oops, that was a mistake.
[Warning!]
[— Probability of ??? — 100%]
“Ah…”
.
.
.
.
.
“…Haa.”
Meanwhile, at 221B Baker Street.
“She’s crossing the line…”
Charlotte was sitting comfortably in her armchair, a blanket draped over her stomach. She had a headphone in one ear, listening to classical music said to be good for prenatal care, while using the other to eavesdrop on Adler.
“What the hell is this fu—”
As she attempted to surge out of her seat, the mana inside her body stirred, forcing her to pause.
“…Ahem.”
She quickly suppressed the potent mana, gently stroking her stomach with uncharacteristic affection before preparing to head out.
“…Fucking bitch.”